The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-04
THE SCALDING OF M'CONAHY
Further Evidence Of Criminal Negli-
gence by Insane Hospital Attendants.
Coroner Wagner Finds Difficulty in Getting
Information in the Institutional Let
ter from the Dead Mans Brother.

of Albert d. McConahy as IL progresses brings
to the surface moro and more evidence that
there criminal negligence on the part of the
hospital attendant The revelations already
made by Coroner Wagner have attracted much
attention throughout the State. The people who
have friends and relatives in the institution
particularly interested. and DIR. Wagner is
urged by them to leave nothing undone to place
the blame for the mans death where it belongs.
The attempt of the hospital officials to cover
mp the crime is regarded strong proof of
The guilt Of some one. That they did
exert every effort to keep the mans
strange death a secret there can be little doubt.
1t was known that il shipping permit was
issued the circumstances of the death would
come to light through the health Office, and
therefore the body was shipped at night without
the authority of any one. Mr.. Renihan, of the
firm Of Renihan, Long & Hedges. undertakers,
who do the hospital work, objects to being held
responsible for the violation of the law. The
hospital authorities, he Gays. should have at
tended to procuring the permit, and not him.
There was another attempt to hold back the
truth when the death return was made out, in
stating that death occurred from exhaustion.
The word seems to be in common use with the
hospital physicians. In making the death re-
turn the name was purposely, or accidentally
msspelled with instead OF an b.
The coroner yet has information as to
who sent him the note calling his attention to
the circumstances of the mans death, but the
general belief is that it came from some attend
ant at the hospital The person who wrote it
was cognizant of all the circumstances of the
death, and when it was written outside
the hospital walls knew anything about the
affair unless it was some one to whom the facts
bad been told by an attendant. In addition to
calling the attention of the Coroner to the fact
that an inmate had been scalded to death in a
bath-tub the furnished the information
that the attendants had been sworn to
secresy, and given to understand that
the first who mentioned the
circumstance of the death should be discharged
If the scalding was done by the patient himself
why should there be any attempt to keep it a
secretl This is the question great many peo-
pie asking.
The evidence, so far as taken, tends to show
that the attendant must have put the man in the
bath-tub. and then turned on the hot water &C.
cidentally. Not noticing his mistake. he left
the patient for a moment. he testifes and
when he returned, found the man being scaIded.
The evidence of DR.. Thomas, and that of DR..
Ryer, which was taken yesterday agrees that
paralysis. Thus affected, he utterly help
less to turn off the water, and remained in it I'M
til the return of the attendant.
Doctor Wagner is finding it very difficult to
get any definite information regarding the
scalding Nearly all the hospital attendants and
officers profess TO know nothing about it. and it
is becoming evident that the whole truth will
never be known No one. perhaps, knew how
the scalding occurred but the insane and
the attendant. The man is dead, and i. is not
TO be expected that the attendant will crimiuate
rdav
was that of DR.. E. c. Ryer He professed to
know very little about the case. Several days
called away. and during his absence
he, Ryer, attended Mr. Conahy. He found
him badly burned. the burn eSas
deep, and extended from the shoulders down to
the limbs. McConahy, he said, was badly
affected with paralysis, was very weak and al
most helpless. With reference TO the attendant
who had charge OF the bath when the scalding
occurred he said he was new man-had only
been at the hospital two or three weeks when
the accident occurred. and perhaps did not know
much about the bath tubs The dead man was a
brother of j. A. McConahy. of Valparaiso senior
member of the firm of McConahy & Co.. whole
sale dealers in cigars and tobacco. DIR. Wagner
yesterday received the following letter from Mr.
VALPARAISO Ind. Oct. Q.
Dear Sir-I see by the daily that you are in
the cause of my brothers "a. d. McCona-
hy death at indianapolis in the hospital the morn
ing of the 22d of lasr month. When 1 his
mains at home ivan Vert, o. somehow felt that
he mad not received treatment that something
bad been done TO hasten his death. suppose this
feeling was brought about by the treatment received
while paying him visit the 4th of July. l could
not get any. satsfaet Try information from
his attending physician In fact the Doctor too
busy playing lawn tennis to talk to On the
ing of his death. at about $50 o'clock received
telegram announcing his death. and asking if they
should bury him there ship his remains at my
pense. Immediately te!egraphed to my elder brother
It Van Vert if he could go after my dead brother.
That afternoon l received word that he would go
The fsst train then wired the superintendent to
md that it would be called for My brother arrived
here that evening and found the body at the under
takers.
Icannot understand why none of his relatives not |
his wife, did not receive notice of his actual
iition when he laid there for eight days. We were
old that he weak that he could his
hands to feed himself If this SO will never be-
Again. when he was taken there he had large fin. |
ger ring upon his hand. This his wife has tried to |
pioyes know anything about it, We have received |
lone of his personal effects whatever.
l. in behalf of the members of his family. thank
ul TO you for making the investigation and that
Tou will make it thorough and if we be of
any assistance to you we will cheerfully respond.
Yours, truly. j. A. MCCoNAHY.
Coroner Wagner will continue the invessiga-
ion TO-DAY by examining several more attendants
It the hospital
Said physician yesterday to Journal
porter: sit strikes me that the statement
# the attendant in regard to the Nc
Jonahy horror makes the case even worse than
was without the explanation He says he put
he patient in the tub. turned on the cold water.
ind went away to attend to some other matter.
\ man who would proceed to
lathe parayZed person, or any
ther helpless person in that way, needs |
ne attention of the White Caps. just think of
letting into bath-tub. turning in the cold
vater and then letting in enough water to bring
to proper temperature! Whv it is enough to
make a we'll person sick. An attendant who
las not enough humanity or to prepare
he water in the bath before putting a patieptin
ought to be discharged at once If It Is the
visionary method at the Insane Asylum, those
rho escape with their lives ought to be thank
uL"
THE HOMELESS AND FRIENDLESS.